Noise insulating booth for testing camera in ABB, Rakovski branch, 2018

Project Overview

ABB, a global leader in power products, robotics, and industrial automation, operates several production units in Bulgaria. At one of these facilities, DECIBEL collaborated with ABB to address a critical noise control requirement for a reference noise measurement cabin. Accurate testing demanded background noise levels below 15 dB to prevent interference with measurement accuracy. The existing cabin fell short of this target, prompting DECIBEL to design and implement an advanced noise insulation solution to meet ABB’s stringent specifications.

Challenge

Initial measurements taken by DECIBEL’s acoustic engineers revealed sound levels in the cabin ranging between 19 and 21 dB, with sound interference from nearby industrial activities. The presence of varied amplitude production noises at low and medium frequencies complicated soundproofing efforts and underscored the need for a robust solution.

Scope of Work

• Detailed Acoustic Analysis
• Noise Insulation Design
• Material Selection
• Implementation

Solution

DECIBEL’s solution centred on constructing an additional noise-insulating booth around ABB’s existing testing cabin. This booth employed specially designed soundproofing materials optimised for low and medium frequencies to mitigate the persistent background noise from surrounding production. Each element of the construction was chosen for its high acoustic absorption and noise attenuation capabilities, effectively reducing ambient sound interference.

The installation included a sound barrier designed to counteract production noise, utilising dense materials for maximum noise suppression. This approach was critical to achieving an exceptionally low noise threshold, ensuring that all tests within the cabin could be conducted with minimal interference.

Result

Following DECIBEL’s intervention, background noise levels within the reference measurement cabin were successfully reduced to 14.5 dB, surpassing ABB’s requirements. The newly installed booth provided an acoustically controlled environment, ensuring accurate noise measurements and supporting ABB’s high standards for testing and quality assurance. This noise reduction solution has optimised the testing process, preventing discrepancies and enhancing reliability in ABB’s operations.

• Products Used: High-performance soundproofing materials, specialised acoustic panels targeting low and medium frequencies, and custom-built silencer booth components.

Precision Noise Control in Industrial Testing Environments

Accurate sound measurement is essential in manufacturing settings, especially when verifying equipment compliance with noise and safety standards. Excess noise in testing environments can compromise measurement accuracy, leading to potential misreadings that affect product quality and compliance. DECIBEL’s expertise in creating ultra-quiet testing spaces, such as ABB’s reference measurement cabin, underscores the importance of precise acoustic control. Achieving such low background noise levels allows manufacturers like ABB to uphold strict quality standards and deliver products that meet rigorous regulatory requirements.

DECIBEL’s noise insulation solutions meet international acoustic standards for testing and measurement environments, with materials designed and tested to deliver optimal sound attenuation. Our solutions ensure that industrial testing areas meet both regulatory standards and client-specific noise control criteria.